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Orient Express Train Aberdeen
Details of the Orient Express train day trips and where to book a trip on the Orient Express Northern Belle or Orient Express British Pullman from over 80 UK train stations. Includes an Orient Express Review and Photograph:
Orient Express Train Aberdeen is a trip on the Orient Express Of The North and makes a super treat and a great way to see the North East countryside. There are
also departure points for the Orient Express Northern Belle throughout Scotland and the Orient Express British Pullman throughout England.
From the moment of arrival at the Orient Express train passengers receive VIP and first class treatment. Orient Express train staff wear smart livery and
uniforms, there are red carpets inviting you to the carriages, doors are opened and your glass is never empty as you enjoy fine wines and five star dining with a
four course silver service lunch or dinner.
Further Information
or to book a trip on the Orient Express from over 80 UK train stations.
Northern Belle
The Orient Express Aberdeen train which travels throughout Scotland is known as the Northern Belle train which consists of refurbished British Rail Mark II carriages.
The dining cars are named after British stately homes and castles. These include the Alnwick carriage, Belvoir carriage, Chatsworth carriage, Glamis carriage, Harlech carriage and
the Warwick carriage. Each carriage aboard the Orient Express Northern Belle are styled for each specific stately home or castle. For example the About Aberdeen team
enjoyed a trip in the Chatsworth carriage and the wooden interior was styled with yew tree, sycamore, walnut, maple and satinwood whilst the metal work was golden and the seats a light fabric with deep
purple cushions. The flowers on the table reflect the country from which each Orient Express Northern Belle carriage is named. So for example the Welsh Harlech Castle carriage
had daffodils whilst the Warwick Castle carriage had roses. Each rose or daffodil was accompanied by an attractive thistle to reflect the Scottish train day trip.
The Orient Express Aberdeen carriages have been restored to the 1920s and 1930s era with plush upholstery, solid brass fittings, wooden veneers and softly shaded lamps. The two carriages by the Orient Express train engine are the staff quarters which consist of sleeping quarters, eating area and lounge so that the staff can relax between Orient Express day trips throughout the UK.
As well as the Aberdeen pick up point the Northern Belle has other Scottish pick up points such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dingwell and Elgin.
The Orient Express Aberdeen train takes its passengers to top Scotland locations such as Mull or Oban via the picturesque West Highland Line and Loch Lomond.
Lunch and diner meals enjoyed by previous passengers of the Northern Belle include Scottish favourites such as Cullen skink soup, venison in a whisky jus, Scots cheeseboard, chocolate torte, coffee and chocolates.
The Orient Express train also departs from Victoria Station in London, England to other English destinations such as Bath, Wilton House, Salisbury, Longleat, the Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace, Worcester and Canterbury.
Further Information
or to book a trip on the Orient Express from over 80 UK train stations.
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There is a dress code for those travelling on the Orient Express run trains and it is best to check this at the time of booking your seat. Generally smart dress
is required with no passengers being permitted to travel in jeans, t-shirts or trainers. When About Aberdeen travelled aboard the Orient Express Northern Belle day trip around
Scotland all the men wore suits and ties whilst the women wore dresses.
Orient Express run trains are non smoking and passengers are asked to turn off their mobile phones so that they do not disturb other passengers.
Orient Express Day Trips
The Northern Belle train and the British Pullman trains of the Orient Express are running trips in December. These Orient Express day trips depart from various
stations around the United Kingdom such as Bristol, Cardiff, Chester, Crewe, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Halifax, Harrogate, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Shrewsbury
and York in the run up to Christmas. Orient Express day trips include the fine dining experience aboard the Northern Belle and British Pullman trains and an opportunity
to visit traditional Christmas markets for a festive shopping experience. Some Orient Express day trips include Christmas lunch or Christmas dinner.
Some of the Scottish Orient Express trains will be diesel locomotives rather than steam engines.
The Orient Express train, the British Pullman, travels from London Victoria with selected regional departures throughout the South of England.
Orient Express Review
The About Aberdeen Orient Express review was for the Orient Express Northern Belle day trip from Aberdeen train station around the Scottish countryside with an Orient Express lunch. It was booked at orient-express.com where we received a 20% discount for booking direct. At the time of our online booking for the Northern Belle lunch excursion we ordered a basket of blooms at an additional cost of £50. The flowers were waiting on the table at our boarding of the Orient Express train and during lunch the Orient Express steward took them to their cold storage room to keep fresh whilst we enjoyed our lunch. When the table was cleared the flower basket was returned.
Prior to the Orient Express review and booking tickets About Aberdeen called the Orient Express centre and found the staff there to be most helpful. In fact throughout the whole Orient Express experience the staff were ever so polite and nothing was too much trouble. Their poor jaws must have been sore at the end of the day from smiling!
Tickets to the Orient Express experience arrived a few days before departure and the About Aberdeen team were kept informed of departure times and terms and conditions by e-mail. Paying by credit card was so easy and by naming each passenger we were sent personalised tickets and a boarding card which the Orient Express call an Invitation to Board. This details the carriage name and seat number for each passenger with the departure and arrival time. There was also a detailed itinerary.
About Aberdeen parked at the public car park beside the BT building which is sign posted for the long stay railway station car parking. It cost £6 for the day which was cheaper than the main Union Square car park. Do remember to go to the lower levels for this cheaper car park charges. A short walk way takes you to the trains and there are two lifts to the platforms for disabled people.
It is recommended that Orient Express Aberdeen passengers arrive at least 20 minutes before departure which is prompt. The Orient Express sadly cannot wait for late passengers. AboutAberdeen arrived one hour before departure so that we would have time to take photos for this Orient Express review and there were already seated passengers. There are three stewards per carriage and several Orient Express managers for the train. We were all greeted upon arrival and shown to our carriages. A red carpet takes you to the carriage doors which are opened by stewards. The disabled person in our party was helped aboard. The stewards are happy to take photographs of the party on the platform and inside the carriages. They also gave a history of the train and the carriages and were able to help answer questions throughout the day.
The seats aboard the Orient Express Northern Belle are ever so plush and comfortable and huge cushions are available. The flooring of the carriages are deep wool Axminster carpets. The tables were already laid for silver service dining and included an immaculate starched white tablecloth and napkins, silver vase with flowers, silver salt and pepper pots and a range of glasses for the complimentary water, champagne and wines. Each table can have a choice of still or sparkling water and a £21 bottle of wine per couple. As we were a group of four we were given a £42 alcohol allowance even though two of the About Aberdeen group did not drink alcohol. They were given free non alcoholic drinks throughout the Orient Express experience which included mango J2O, apple juice and water.
Upon arrival at the Orient Express Aberdeen tables there were two canapes per passenger which were of soft cream cheese and venison with red cabbage and really delicious.
Once seated the stewards (Sandra, Joe and Stuart) poured a complimentary glass of champagne which was later topped up prior to lunch. When we learnt that we would not be getting off the Orient Express train like previous day trips AboutAberdeen thought that the time may drag and planned to start writing our Orient Express review, but time goes really quickly and the meal and on board entertainment helps fill the time.
The Orient Express Aberdeen train trip was for over 6 hours and a distance of 273 miles. The Orient Express route was from Aberdeen, through to Portlethen, Stonehaven, Laurencekirk, Montrose, Arbroath, Carnoustie, Golf Street, Barry Links, Monifieth, Balmossie, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, Perth, Ladybank, Markinch, Glenrothes with Thornton, Cardenden, Lochgelly, Cowdenbeath, Rosyth, Aberdour, Burntisland, Kinghorn and back to Aberdeen following the same route. We were not able to leave any of the stations and no more passengers were boarded at any of the train stations. A free map of the route was provided on the tables. We felt really decadent waving to sightseers, trainspotters and other passengers on the platforms!
Once the Orient Express Northern Belle was underway the Stewards introduced themselves and explained about the complimentary wine (we choose a fine red Rustenberg John X Merriman Stellenbosch from South Africa) and how to purchase other drinks like whisky, additional wine and champagne, cognac, vodka, rum, gin, beer etc. Prices of these were displayed in the lunch menu booklet and charged at the end of the Orient Express experience. At the time of this Orient Express review a Talisker malt whisky cost £9-50 for 5cl, a Bacardi rum £6, a Gordon's gin £6 and a beer such as Stella Artois for £4. Additional champagne costs from £44 through to £220. Port was offered with the cheese course at a cost of £5-50 to £8.
The first round of entertainment on the Orient Express Aberdeen journey was a singer and guitar player and trombone player with silencer on the end. The were dressed like 1920s musicians with long tails and spats with a pencilled moustache. The Orient Express musicians were great fun and very talented and chose an appropriate melody and requests were taken. But be warned! Those who did not sing along were treated to the wit of the train musicians - "I've seen more life in a tramp's vest!" was told to me when I did not sing along!
Do visit the toilets onboard the Orient Express Northern Belle which are so plush with porcelain toilets and basins, tiled mosaic flooring and Molton Brown soap. The towels are cotton and single use and the toilet paper ever so soft. The walls have artwork: all in all a much posher toilet train than any member of About Aberdeen has seen.
Sadly our huge Pentax camera was too obvious to take a pic of without looking odd! Though it is ideal for photos for this Orient Express review.
There are two bathrooms between carriages and across from these are cloakrooms for coats and any luggage. Above each table in the carriage were gold coloured luggage racks which are handy for coats, camera cases, etc.
Lunch is expertly served by the stewards by silver service. The motion of the Orient Express train throughout the Orient Express Aberdeen journey was ever so smooth; so no spilled food. For a starter AboutAberdeen had a medley of Kentish farm asparagus with parmesan and garlic dressing. There were about six pieces of deliciously cooked asparagus. Throughout the lunch aboard the Orient Express the portions were large and seconds were offered when requested. This was followed by Cullen Skink served with smoked bacon lardons and a choice of freshly baked bread such as sun dried tomato or cheese and potato. One of our party did not like Cullen Skink and was offered a vegetable broth alternative.
The main course on the Orient Express Northern Belle was seared fillet of Roe Deer, fondant potato, roasted parsnip puree and sloe berry jus. This still makes my mouth water as I write this Orient Express Northern Belle review. The roe deer was so succulent.
The lovely thing about having lunch on the Orient Express Northern Belle is that no course was rushed. It was so relaxing to have a leisurely lunch with fine company whilst watching the Scottish countryside.
The Great British Cheeseboard and Home-Made Chutney course filled a cheeseboard that stretched across the two tables of the aisle. The stewards offered from the choice of six cheeses which included brie, blue cheese, apple smoked cheese, soft cheese and cheddars served with water biscuits and oatcakes. The chutney was a sweet yellow tomato chutney. The cheese board came round twice, though readers of this Orient Express Northern Belle review should be advised to leave room for the dessert.
For pudding there was Liquid Chocolate which was a large triangular hard chocolate with a soft chocolate centre served with cherries and cherry syrup.
The coffee and tea was served from silver pots and was a refreshing Rainforest Alliance coffee served in dainty Orient Express china cups and saucers. The stewards returned with refills and complimentary chocolate truffles which were presented in a special Orient Express Northern Belle box which could be taken away or eaten during the Orient Express experience.
Our chefs on the Orient Express Northern Belle day trip were chef Alex Dobson and executive head chef Matthew Smith.
The lunch menu for the Orient Express Northern Belle experience stated "gratuities at your discretion" and AboutAberdeen chose to tip at the departure stage
Some of the passengers chose to have a wee nap whilst others enjoyed the chance for more conversation. The stewards are so sleek of movement and ever so quite and non intrusive. They are very good at gauging the mood and needs of their passengers and seem to know when to have a laugh or ask if you'd like more to eat or drink.
The Orient express train driver announced a welcome and departure message over the tannoy and kept us informed of any delays such as why we were stationary in Dundee train station.
During this Orient Express of the North Northern Belle day trip the carriages were pulled by a Class 37 Locomotive which was built between 1950 and 1960.
There was no rush to depart the Orient Express Aberdeen train and the stewards helped passengers off the train and said a lovely farewell. This was an ideal time to leave tips and for awaiting family to take photos.
A promotion code for the Orient Express was given in the booklet for another visit or to pass on to family. This gives 10% off a future journey. An ideal use would be to buy gift certificates for family.
Read more about the Orient Express and to view photographs and video clips at the orient-express website www.orient-express.com
More luxury days out.
Northern Belle 2010
The Northern Belle 2010 day trip to Kyle of Lochalsh usually takes place in August. This Orient Express Northern Belle train day trip includes an
afternoon sightseeing trip tour of the Isle of Skye along with return rail travel from Aberdeen Station. Passengers will be treated to a three course Champagne
Bellini brunch during the journey to Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland. On the return journey on the Orient Express Northern Belle to Aberdeen gust will be treated
to a champagne reception, table canapes an a three course dinner which will also include wine, coffee and petit fours.
Orient Express Lunch
Orient Express lunch often appears as a challenge on the BBC programmes Masterchef and Celebrity Masterchef on BBC1 and The Restaurant on BBC2. The chef contestants have to prepare lunch aboard the Orient Express train for passengers using the small kitchen onboard with challenges such as the moving train and less equipment than a large kitchen.
Orient Express History
A comprehensive Orient Express history has been written by Shirley Sherwood in
Venice-Simplon Orient Express: The Return of the World's Most Glamorous Train where she tells the history of the Orient Express and the general history of trains and railways of Britain and Europe. She then describes how her husband, James B Sherwood, bought the original Orient Express stock, restored the carriages and trains and then set up the Venice Simplon Orient Express.
George Mortimer Pullman built the first luxury train, called the Pioneer, in 1864. Then in 1876 Georges Nagelmackers, the founder of Wagons-Lits Company, ran luxury trains across Europe. This included the world famous Orient Express which provided luxurious travel between London and Paris. The Orient Express trains were and still are well known by its brand of colours which were cream and chocolate for the Pullman carriages that travel within the UK and the European Orient Express trains of deep blue with gold lettering for the names of the carriages.
Orient Express history saw the trains taking passengers between England and France journey across the sea in special ferries so that passengers need not got off the carriages. There were special railway sleepers so that the trains could drive straight into the ferry. Sadly this special feature of the Orient Express history is no longer with us and passengers at Folkestone leave the train and have their own lounge on the ferry and board another train in France. The Orient Express ferries ran from 1936 to 1980.
Luxury travel had to cease during the Great War and the Second World War. One hundred of the two hundred Pullman saloons were damaged during WWII and during the 1980s restoration work shrapnel splinters were found and removed.
Orient Express history drew to what was then thought of as a sad day when the last direct Orient Express train left Paris from Gare de Lyon and travelled to Istanbul on 19 May 1977. It was thought that the decline of the Orient Express trains were due to faster and cheaper airlines.
The Orient Express carriages were auctioned at Monte Carlo by Sotheby's. New Orient Express history was made when James Sherwood the President of Sea Containers Group had the vision to run Orient Express trains to his hotel in Venice, the Hotel Cipriani. Thus the Venice Simplon Orient Express trains dream started. Read more about the history of each Pullman car, the sleeping cars, the restoration work, the removal of blue asbestos, repairing of the original bogies (the wheeled undercarriages), restoring the interior wooden panelling, rewiring, re-chroming of the luggage racks, refurbishment of lamps, decor and artefacts such as plates, glasses, vases, cutlery, bed linen and towels in the book
Venice-Simplon Orient Express: The Return of the World's Most Glamorous Train. There is also a description of the trial run on 1 May 1982 and the first paying passenger journey of the new Orient Express, the Venice Simplon Orient Express from London to Venice on 25 May 1982 with famous passengers such as the actress Liza Minelli. Shirley Sherwood described the journey in great detail including the menus and food and the beautiful scenery. Alan Whicker travelled on this Venice Simplon Orient Express and made a documentary for Whicker's World.
The carriages have been used for a range of films and television programmes, most famously Agatha Christie Murder on the Orient Express with Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot. Orient Express history is also captured on film in The Lady Vanishes (directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Margaret Lockwood), From Russia With Love (Sean Connery as James Bond), Agatha and also The Seven Percent Solution starring Vanessa Redgrave.
The Orient Express history is captured throughout the book in many photos, postcards such as the postcard of the Orient Express near Constantinople, advertising posters like the Simplon Orient Express to Venice, maps such as the map of the 1930 to 1931 Season of Simplon Orient Express and Taurus Express, brochures such as the brochure demonstrating how single cabins can be turned from a seating area cabin to a bed and en-suite bathroom and scans such as the luncheon menu.
Orient Express historical photographs include the funeral train for Sir Winston Churchill and a photo of the Simplon Orient Express train which was stuck in a snow drift for ten days in Western Turkey. A description of the conditions in the carriages accompanies this picture. Other Orient Express history photos includes dining car and the interior of the bar car.
The names, history and descriptions of each carriage is outlined in the book
Venice-Simplon Orient Express: The Return of the World's Most Glamorous Train and include the British Pullmans Audrey, Cygnus, Ibis, Ione, Minerva, Perseus, Phoenix and Zena.
Orient Express Gifts
In addition to the trip and meals the Orient Express trains can also provide passengers with caviar, champagne, flowers and gifts such as a photo frame, teddy
bear or champagne flutes at an additional cost. These gifts can be ordered at the time of booking a ticket to the Orient Express Northern Belle.
During the Orient Express day trip in the United Kingdom a
member of staff brings round the Signature Boutique gifts mail order catalogue. Though these Orient Express gifts can be couried to your home many are available to buy on the day. About Aberdeen
purchased a nifty USB4GB memory stick encased in a leather case with the Orient Express Northern Belle logo, some Northern Belle Parker pens and a Venice Scene rollerball
pen.
Other Orient Express gifts include crystal champagne glasses, wine glasses, water glasses, brass pullman table lamp with silk lampshade, Venice Simplon Orient Express
bone china cup and saucer, Venice Simplon Orient Express silver plated vase, a range of limoges boxes which includes those decorated with the Paris to Istanbul route, a silver
plated travel candle, fountain pens, a range of travel bags, scarfs, wraps, coasters, wallets, photograph albums and photo frames and even a Venice Simplon Orient
Express porter's cap.
Gifts for children include Orient Express teddy bears such as the chef, steward, engine driver, porter or guard teddy bear. There is also a VSOE HO Gauge Carriage Set for 240 volts consisting of the Orient Express restaurant carriage,
baggage carriage and seating carriage. The Orient Express British Pullman engine train and carriage gift set includes the steam engine, coal carriage, restaurant car
and two carriages.
Orient Express jewellery includes charms, earrings, bracelets, cuff links, Pullman collectors badge, tie clip and necklaces. Orient Express clothing include
a range of ties baseball caps and polo shirts. And of course there are a range of Agatha Christie and Hercule Poirot gifts which includes the limited edition Murder on the Orient Express novel by Agatha Christie, a History
of the Orient Express by Anthony Burton, the Orient Express Guide to Venice and the Orient Express Guide to Paris.
All are a lasting memento of a special day on the Orient Express Train Aberdeen.
Murder on the Orient Express
Murder on the Orient Express was readapted for ITV with David Suchet as the famous Belgian detective Poirot for Christmas 2010.
David Suchet on the Orient Express
David Suchet also made a documentary called David Suchet on the Orient Express where he travelled on the train. During the filming of David Suchet on the Orient Express the actor was asked for autographs and photos with his fellow passengers and sales of the book Murder on the Orient Express from the onboard gift range were high that day. Fellow passengers told David Suchet that they were onboard as a treat because Murder on the Orient Express was their favourite Agatha Christie novel.
Carry On Spying
Carry On Spying features scenes on the Orient Express train. Carry On Spying starred Kenneth Williams as inept spy Desmond Simkins and trainee spies Barbara Windsor (Daphne Honeybutt), Bernard Cribbins (Harold Crump) and Charles Hawtrey (Charlie Bind). Carry On Spying also started Eric Barker as the spy chief and Dilys Laye as Lila and Jim Dale as Carstairs as British spies who keep getting foiled by Kenneth Williams, Barbara Windsor, Bernard Cribbins and Charles Hawtrey who don’t realise they are on the same side.
During the scenes aboard the Orient Express train the enemy, Milchmann, played by Victor Maddern, tries to get a secret formula from the spies. Kenneth Williams falls from the Orient Express train window from his sleeping compartment and is saved by his braces. There follows a comedy chase down the Orient Express corridor and then Kenneth Williams, Barbara Windsor, Bernard Cribbins and Charles Hawtrey are then cornered by the enemy spies in the Orient Express dining compartment so order soup and bread rolls and eat the secret formula. The enemy spy captures them and uses the photographic memory of Barbara Windsor to reveal the details of the secret formula under interrogation and torture.
The screenplay of Carry On Spying was written by Talbot Rothwell and Sid Colin, directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers.
The Spirit of Travel
The Orient Express train arrives in Aberdeen on the 7 August 2011 to take passengers on a day trip called The Spirit of Travel with Lunch. The Spirit of Travel
costs £195 from the Orient Express website and is a day trip with no leaving the train. Lunch is served and the meal and day trip on the Orient Express will be much like
the Orient Express review above.
Afternoon Tea Orient Express
Afternoon Tea Orient Express is a new addition to the Orient Express trips for 2011. For £150 from the Orient Express website passengers on board the Orient Express can enjoy a glass of champagne upon boarding the carriage, traditional afternoon tea which includes finger sandwiches, cakes, scones with clotted cream and preserves and served with tea and coffee. Those taking the Orient Express afternoon tea onboard the Northern Belle train can enjoy the experience of being served by the beautifully uniformed Orient Express staff at the luxurious Orient Express train tables which will be laid with starched tablecloths, napkins and silver service.
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